Boarding school

Chapter 17

(Dani.)
Inside was a typical party scene, plastic cups were everywhere, couples, people, music...everything.
Logan and Lola met us in the kitchen, but disappeared as usual. It was awkward that they kept leaving us alone and we weren't even a couple.
"So, is this weird for you?" I blurted to Gage who stood right across from me. He took a couple steps closer making me stop breathing. Then, he took a lock of hair from my shoulder and placed it in the back.
Weird.
But oh. My. Amazing.
"No." He answered stepping back. I wished he had kissed me, what am I saying?
"It's not that fun." I admitted, honestly it wasn't fun for me to come stand around at a party where nothing happened. I wanted something more.
He shook his head "They never are." He said, pressing his hands on the counter top and leaning on it.
"Dani! Hi!" A familiar sounding voice called spinning me around and hugging me. The perfume scent was familiar, Marigold.
She had on denim high waisted shorts and a black bralette. That was it, I wished I could actually pull something like that off.
Her stunning appearance made me uncomfortable. Especially since she's right by my crush, her ex, who could easily get back.
"Hi, Gage." She smiled standing in between us. "Hello, Marigold." He said plainly. She narrowed her eyes and looked at us.
"Are you two...together?" She asked me.
"No." I said shaking my head as usual. Gage didn't do anything but stare at spaces like he was waiting on Marigold to get out.
Too bad it's her party.
She smiled sweetly, like her glossy lips glued her mouth that way. "Well." She looked at Gage this time "I know we're in the past but Ashley is in the back." Marigold winked "But Ashton is here, try to avoid him. We don't want a repeat of last time." She smiled, patted his shoulder and she walked away.
What?
Ashley?
Ashton. The guy who messed with me, they have a past?
Gage's eyes were wide. "Was that just Marigold being crazy or is any of that true?" I asked him. I didn't really want to be here now. I was way more out of place than ever.
"I mean, it's just.." He started and glanced around. "Let's go." He said firmly.
He pulled my arm and started walking toward my car. "I need the keys." He said reaching for them.
I scrambled in my purse and handed them to him, "Where are we going?" I asked struggling to keep up. He started the car up and we sped off down the road.
I assumed he had a license as he pulled away from the neighborhood and back to the city. "AJ's." He answered referring to a pub.
"What's going on?" I asked him, nervously rubbing my hands on my jeans. What was he hiding?
We pulled into the small parking lot, obviously the youngest here. Everyone else is middle aged or college kids looking for cheap beer and fun. I loved it.
We walked up and got a table, I was still utterly confused. The waiter asked for our drinks and then left.
"What is this all about? We didn't even tell them we basically ran out of there. Why are we here?" I asked turning my head to the side and focusing on his features.
He sighed, "Okay, so about that whole thing with Marigold...back when I was preppy and stuff I was always at those parties. I made some bad decisions. I used to get drunk a lot, I was new and trying to fit in. I slept around a lot." He said
It stung a little bit but I wasn't sure why he was telling me this.
"So, Ashley was one of the girls I used to hook up with at the parties. It was a really bad idea. She got me into pot and other stuff...its part of the reason I quit football. All the pressure to be good and then I had to do a drug test. I knew it'd come out bad so I quit. And at that time I was dating Marigold. She drove me crazy. And then on top of that this guy Ashton was always talking trash and one day, I got mad and we got into a fight. I ended up getting suspended. I knew I wouldn't be able to play football then." He said keeping a gaze on me the whole time.

It hit me hard. Gage of all people doing this?
I wasn't sure if it was fear I had or more of a rush, I had never had someone like this before.
"I wasn't that close to Logan anymore...my parents were so mad. My dad told me not to come back till I was straightened out. Then this semester everything changed. I quit it all. Marigold and I broke up, I got closer to Logan, you guys got here...I was myself again." He explained leaning back on the chair.
"Wow." I breathed.
He nodded like he was ashamed and kept his head down.
"So..then why would it matter if you saw Ashley again? Or Ashton?" I asked him keeping a critical gaze.
"I didn't want you to see them.." He trailed breaking eye contact.
"Oh." Was all I said.
I didn't know how I felt being here now, now that I know what he did. He's had sex a lot and I got dumped because I wouldn't.
I bit my lip.
"You're not scared of me...are you?" He asked like he was about to lose something..was it me?
Was I scared?
Crazily enough, I wasn't. I didn't care about it anymore.
"No." I answered.
"Are you scared of me?" I asked with a smile curving on my lips.
"Yeah." He answered.
He sounded serious too, which threw me off.
"But not for the same reason." He said.